Australian Coalition requests inquiry on R18+ bill

Flummoxed by the sudden appearance of a wild legislation, the Coalition called for an inquiry into a bill proposing changes to Australia’s Classification act – namely, the addition of an R18+ ratings category for video games. The proposed changes have been the subject of public consultation, debate and multiple inquiries over the past few years, and were finally introduced to parliament for the first time yesterday. The inquiry is likely to delay the bill slightly but may not affect plans to bring the new ratings category into effect as early as January 1, 2013. Current legislation in Australia refuses classification – and thereby, legal sale – of content rated higher than MA15+.